Noise and Interference in Instrumentation Systems

Electronic Instrumentation

Electronic Instrumentation
Chapter 3
Noise and Interference in
Instrumentation Systems

Pablo Acedo / Jose A. Garca Souto

Noise and Interference in Instrumentation Systems

Electronic Instrumentation

Chapter 3. Noise and Interference in

Instrumentation Systems

Introduction
Origin of Noise in Circuits
Noise Models for Amplifiers.
Examples of Calculation of the Noise Limited
Resolution in Signal Conditioning Circuits
Interference. Sources of Coherent interference.
Minimization of Interference Effects.
Groud Loops
Summary
Pablo Acedo / Jose A. Garca Souto

Noise and Interference in Instrumentation Systems

Electronic Instrumentation

Introduction
Both noise and interference, though of different origin,
provide a major limitation to the precision of measurements
and the detectability/resolution
The different origins for electronic noise and coherent
interference leads to different approximations when trying to
reduce their effects.
IMPORTANT: Although systematization of the noise and
coherent interference influence is available (and a brief
discussion follows), in real systems experience of the
designers is critical, as sometimes it is impossible to take into
account all sources of error/interference in the design.

Pablo Acedo / Jose A. Garca Souto

Noise and Interference in Instrumentation Systems

Electronic Instrumentation

Origins of Noise in Circuits (I)

Noise is considered to arise in a circuit or measurement
system from completely random phenomena: usually from
thermal or quantum origins.
We will consider noise sources to be stationary and with zero
means. The latter means that the unwanted DC components
are best considered to be drifts or offsets and their influence
are to be treated separately.
The characterization of noise sources is usually done in terms
of their power density spectrum (Sn(f) in W/Hz) defined as the
Fourier transform of the autocorrelation fuction of the noise.
In this sense we can classified noise sources as White (Sn(f)
constant over f) or coloured.
Pablo Acedo / Jose A. Garca Souto

Noise and Interference in Instrumentation Systems

Electronic Instrumentation

Origins of Noise in Circuits (II)

Thermal (Johnson) Noise: Any pure resistance at temperature
T (K) has a noise associated with power density spectrum:

The voltage noise being:

Thermal Noise is white (above the crossover frequency) and is

the main source of noise in electronic circuits:
Pablo Acedo / Jose A. Garca Souto

Noise and Interference in Instrumentation Systems

Electronic Instrumentation

Origins of Noise in Circuits (III)

Shot (quantum) Noise: Associated to DC currents through potential
barriers. Appears mainly in light detection (shot noise limit) and in
active devices as transistors. Expressed in current:

Shot noise is also white for all frequencies of interest in

instrumentation.

Pablo Acedo / Jose A. Garca Souto

Noise and Interference in Instrumentation Systems

Electronic Instrumentation

Origins of Noise in Circuits (IV)

Flicker (1/f) Noise: Associated to DC currents through Resistances. Is a
colored noise of relevance only at low frequencies.

Note that addition of noise sources is always done in variance (random

errors)
Crossover Frequency: frequency at which the flicker noise spectral
density is equal to the white noise spectral density
It is usually given in total peak-to-peak volt over a given bandwidth
(example: AD620).

Pablo Acedo / Jose A. Garca Souto

Noise and Interference in Instrumentation Systems

Electronic Instrumentation

Noise Models in Amplifiers

Noise sources inside an amplifiers are multiple and it is impossible to
address them separately. A model including only equivalent voltage
and current noise sources are the input is used.

Only white contributions (Thermal and Shot) are usually taken

into account.

Pablo Acedo / Jose A. Garca Souto

Noise and Interference in Instrumentation Systems

Electronic Instrumentation

Examples of Noise Calculations:

Noise limited Resolution (I)
Minimum resolution at the output of an Inverter amplifier.

Signal power:

Noise power:

Pablo Acedo / Jose A. Garca Souto

Noise and Interference in Instrumentation Systems

Electronic Instrumentation

Examples of Noise Calculations:

Noise limited Resolution (II)
Signal to Noise Ratio:

Example:

Rf= 100 k
R1= 1 k
4KT= 1.66 10-20 W/Hz
Vna =10 nV/Hz
BW=200 kHz

SNR= 1 Vs (min) = 6.7 V

Pablo Acedo / Jose A. Garca Souto

10

Noise and Interference in Instrumentation Systems

Electronic Instrumentation

Examples of Noise Calculations:

Noise limited Resolution (III)
Resolution in Photocurrent Measurement.

Input voltage noise of the amplifier has

a flicker component of 0.18 Vpp (0.1 to
10 Hz BW) b parameter calculation

Pablo Acedo / Jose A. Garca Souto

11

Noise and Interference in Instrumentation Systems

Electronic Instrumentation

Examples of Noise Calculations:

Noise limited Resolution (IV)

Signal power:

Noise power:

Note: Rpd ; b= 8.8 10-16 V2

Example:

RF = 1010
ina =0.2 fA/Hz
4KT= 1.66 10-20 W/Hz
q= 1.6 10-19 C
vna =35 nV/Hz
BW=2 Hz

SNR= 1 Ipd (min) = 1.8 pA

Pablo Acedo / Jose A. Garca Souto

12

Noise and Interference in Instrumentation Systems

Electronic Instrumentation

Interference. Sources
Interference: Coherent signals from other systems (and
sometimes the circuit itself) that enters our system.
Although from coherent origin, and thus narrowband,
they are better treated as random signals/errors.
In opposition to noise, interference are external signals.
For this reason, the best way to minimize its effects is to
identified the interference paths to our circuit/systems.
We can identify four major paths for interference:
1.
2.
3.
4.

Signals coupled in inputs and outputs

Capacitive Coupling
Magnetic Coupling
RF coupling

Pablo Acedo / Jose A. Garca Souto

13

Noise and Interference in Instrumentation Systems

Electronic Instrumentation

Minimization of Interference Effects

The techniques of minimizing coherent interference often
appear arcane to the inexperienced, but ultimately, all
such techniques follow the laws of physics and circuit
theory:
Avoid direct capacitive coupling between signals tracks using ground
planes and guard rings.
Avoid magnetic coupling avoiding loops (use of twisted pair)
Protecting Power supply inputs with feedthroughs to avoid
interference signal paths through Supply voltages.
Use shielding to avoid RF coupling when necessary.
Others..

Pablo Acedo / Jose A. Garca Souto

14

Noise and Interference in Instrumentation Systems

Electronic Instrumentation

Ground Loops (I)

Wrong!!!

Right

Pablo Acedo / Jose A. Garca Souto

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Noise and Interference in Instrumentation Systems

Electronic Instrumentation

Ground Loops (II)

P. Horowitz and W. Hill. Cambridge University Press 1995

Pablo Acedo / Jose A. Garca Souto

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Noise and Interference in Instrumentation Systems

Electronic Instrumentation

Ground Loops (III)

Analog I
Analog II
Signal
Grounds

Digital I
Digital II
Motors,
Relays,

Hardware
Ground

Power
Supply

Use separate grounds

for digital/analog
signals.
Use only one point to
ground the
circuit/system.
Use separate power
supply when
possible.
Shield Case

Pablo Acedo / Jose A. Garca Souto

17

Noise and Interference in Instrumentation Systems

Electronic Instrumentation

Summary
Both noise and interference, though of different origin,
provide a major limitation to the precision of measurements
and the detectability/resolution.
We have presented the main sources of noise in signal
conditioning circuits and examples of its treatment in order to
obtain the noise-limited resolution of the measurement
circuits.
Main paths for interference signals have also been identified
and some guidance to minimize interference effects
presented. Due to their importance, ground loops have been
treated separately.

Pablo Acedo / Jose A. Garca Souto

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